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New Mine Sapphire Syndicate Records, 1889-1967

Overview of the Collection

Creator
New Mine Sapphire Syndicate
Title
New Mine Sapphire Syndicate Records
Dates
1889-1967 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.0 linear feet, (10 boxes and 1 oversize box)
Collection Number
Mss 028
Summary
The New Mine Sapphire Syndicate mined sapphires in Utica, Montana, in Judith Basin County. The collection contains the company's governing documents, financial records, correspondence, legal documents and court papers, reports, clippings, publicity and printed materials, and photographs.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and the University of Montana-Missoula.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

Originally discovered by prospectors in search of placer gold, the rich sapphire-bearing ledge of Montana was located and claimed by three Montanans in 1896. The New Mine Sapphire Syndicate, based solely on the Yogo Sapphire District near Utica, Montana, in Judith Basin County, was incorporated in 1898. S. S. Hobson served as vice president, and Mathew Dunn and George A. Wells, both Great Falls residents, served respectively as president and secretary-treasurer. Soon after the turn of the century, the corporation came under the control of British investors, remaining so until 1949. The Yogo mines operated profitably until 1927, when a flash flood destroyed the surface workings of the Syndicate's operation. After that, little was done to exploit the remaining sapphires. In 1956, Thomas Sidwell succeeded in purchasing the controlling interest in the Syndicate. Lack of capital hampered his operations until 1956-1957, when the Syndicate's stock was re-issued and some work resumed at the mine. Lawsuits, prior claims, poor management, and bad luck combined to ruin the renewed operations of the corporation, and the venture was bankrupt by 1961.

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Content Description

The collection contains the company's governing documents, financial records, correspondence, legal documents and court papers, reports, clippings, publicity and printed materials, and photographs.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], New Mine Sapphire Syndicate Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in ten series:

Series I: Governance and History, 4 folders, 1898-1960

Series II: Correspondence, 1.0 linear foot, 1898-1963

Series III: Financial Records, 3.0 linear feet, 1909-1960

Series IV: Court Papers, 4 folders, 1956-1960

Series V: Legal Documents, 4 folders, 1889-1967

Series VI: Reports, 1 folder, 1910-1959

Series VII: Maps and Blueprints, 1 folder, undated

Series VIII: Clippings, 1 folder, 1950-1960

Series IX: Publicity, 2 folders, 1950-1960

Series X: Photographs, 22 items, 1924-1925

Custodial History

The records were in the possession of John Wight and Marvel Lowrance, owners of the Syndicate's assets, until time of donation.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Marvel Lowrance and John Wight, 1970.

Processing Note

The original processors arranged the records in two collections, LC 28 and LC 223, separated photographs to the photograph collection, and produced a finding aid. In 2004, the two collections were combined, photographs were intellectually re-united with the collection, and a new finding aid was produced and encoded.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Investments, British--Montana--Yogo Creek Region
  • Mining corporations--Montana--Yogo Creek Region
  • Sapphire mines and mining--Montana--Yogo Creek Region

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business records--Montana--Yogo Creek Region
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